Pelham trucker ID'd after knocking down power pole

Pelham police identify the driver as Fortenberry. He remains in the Pelham City Jail.

PELHAM, GA (WALB) -

Power is restored in Pelham after a Louisiana truck driver hit a power pole leaving hundreds without power, and leaving the scene.

Georgia Power crews worked early Sunday morning to restore power on Curry Street in Pelham. Police say a semi truck driver named Cuarry Jemanine Fortenberry was coming down State Route 93, turned too quickly, and hit the power pole in front of a Chevron Gas station.

"He was
making a turn off Georgia 3 onto Curry Street here in Pelham and made too wide
of a turn and clipped a main pole at the
intersection there. There was a witness who observed this whole thing and was
able to give us a description of the vehicle. We had officers go out to the
ethanol plant where they found a vehicle matching the description with the
damage," said Pelham Police Inv. Rod Williams. "The
pole was split in half and wires were dangling. It was very dangerous
scene."

Jermanius Wright was working at the gas station at the time of the accident. "It was crazy, it was a loud boom, it was scary," said Wright.

Police say the truck driver left scene after snapping the power pole into three pieces. "When I came outside I saw all the debris from the pole laying in the road. Seen wires hanging and it's crazy lights out, no cable," said Wright.

About a quarter of the town lost power. In the meantime, Wright says business has been slow. "All the other stores getting our business, so it's kind of slow," said Wright.

No one was injured, but Wright hopes drivers will be more careful. "All this speeding around dangerous curves, I ask everyone to be careful. Because it could've been a life been taken or anything if cars would've been there," said Wright.

Fortenberry is charged with leaving the scene of an accident, failure to maintain lane and for having an expired unified carrier registration. He posted bond and was released from the Pelham City Jail.